Is the magic gone?

[beachblanket]

I won't say the magic is gone, but I think we're getting to the point that the entire family is no longer super excited about going every year.

I guess the reason my family still gets excited about going is the fact we intentionally don't view DVC as a "WDW every year" thing. While we've taken ten trips using points since we joined in 2001, only three have been to WDW, and all of those have been spread at 2.5-3 years apart. I'd say the overall level of service we've gotten during each (all at BWV) has been pretty consistent.

Also, we are regular TGM users and consequently have a "self-service" mindset when it comes to managing things like dining and special event reservations. Ergo, I'd never depend on Disney staff to be on top of those things.

Perhaps that's because I got burned years ago at Disnelyand, when I delegated getting a Fantasmic balcony view seating (below) ressies to the Concierge staff at the Grand Californian. They assured me they had "first dibs" on the desired front row seats and would get me those. But when the day came and we arrived at the balcony, we found out we were seated in back, because non-resorts guests had grabbed up the choice front row seating by calling on their own the moment the ressie lines had opened up 30 days earlier.

I also think sticking Vero and Hilton head in between WDW trips has helped us retain the "magic," since those are "lower pace" Disney experiences, ones at properties that don't have to deal with being the turnkey resource for park and dining plans. Ergo, they can focus soley on running a nice stand-alone resort (albeit one with a "Disney" feel), a function both still do very well.

 

[Deb & Bill]

beachblanket, unless you get to spend the night in the Disney Dreams Suite, you won't get to eat dessert off that balcony again. We did that once and Fantasmic got cancelled at the last minute and our money was refunded - after we stuffed ourselves on the desserts.

 

[shelby101301]

We are new DVC and just joined. They told us they have about 120,000 families if I heard her correctly. I thought that was very little considering how long they have been selling DVC. Plus, as more members join, they build more properties.

For some, especially in this economy, spending that kind of money upfront just isn't doable. Too many are in high debt. I know 2 families they go 1, sometimes 2 times a year, and they keep saying "this is the last time". On average, I believe they spent about $5000 on luxury 1-2BR villas....and they still haven't joined. But they can't afford to join, (although I don't see how they can keep charging expensive vacations much longer).

Finally, people other than DVC members stay at these resorts, so I doubt that the service would drop...especially if they are trying to sell more!

 

[shelby101301]

I think Disneyland is a FANTASTIC park but the service is absolutely terrible as is the attitude of most of the CM's. I was actually physically assalted by a cast member there. The mgmt response? a single apology via phone after I sent a complaint in. I would love to know if they fired the woman or if she is still there beating up on others.

Anyway, I'm just trying to make the point that I don't think you can compare the service at DL and WDW. DL seems to look on their guests as mostly locals, not real guests. Just my .02

 

[hansel1]

There are a few in the mail and more to follow.I tell you it was the worst.I don't know if it was the time of year I was there , the week before winter recess and the next pricing/point season, but nobody knew anything , seemed like it was everybodies first day and they were training alot of people.Probably since the next week was a busy week for them and starts a busy season for Disney.It really sucked and didnt make for a good vacation at all. I'm really not one to complain either , In the past if stuff happened or went wrong my wife would be the one getting pissed and I would just brush it off and move on. This was different. The magic had left the building.

Well, this thread is not about me but If I spent the over $30,000 for the amount of points I need for a good vacation in a room big enough for my family of 6 at a DVC resort every year and this happened at my first visit . I would have not left Disney property ,unless I was handcuffed and in the back of a police car, without getting my money back.

My problem is we love the Yacht and Beach club ( hands down best pool at Disney) and Disneys boardwalk (not the hotel the boardwalk itself) . There are other DVC resorts some older ,some newer so I have to explore them. I will be signing up for the DVC tour my next visit so I can see all of the resorts and will be drilling them with questions and comments of my previous stay at BCV just to see how they respond when asked in front of 20 or more other potential DVC owners. That will be FUN!!

I would have to tend to agree with other people when they say that there is a big difference between concierge level and other accomodations. I have stayed in moderate resorts in the past and now own dvc boardwalk. My family stayed at yacht club concierge level while we were there in january.

To each level there are degrees of service and although disney doesn't want you to know it they hit the entire spectrum from bad to excellent.

My stays at moderate resort always had good service, my dvc stay had great service, but my family's concierge service was outstanding. I definately see what all the fuss is about when people stay at concierge level.

Don't judge DVC by your only stay in a dvc. And please don't judge DVC by concierge standards. You will be sorely dissapointed on both fronts. DVC has it's pros and cons but ultimately the accomodations are the selling point, not the service.

 

[Icale]

Don't judge DVC by your only stay in a dvc. And please don't judge DVC by concierge standards. You will be sorely dissapointed on both fronts. DVC has it's pros and cons but ultimately the accomodations are the selling point, not the service

I probably came off to strong about DVC . I saw the thread title and went on a rant about my stay. Though I was dissappointed about the room condition.I know I can't really compare the concierge to anything else but at least if myself or someone else asked a simple question I think you would deserve something better then "I don't know".Thats an answer I would expect to hear up here in New York, not at the most magical place on earth. I've been looking into the DVC for a while now and have read so many posts on how great it is. I guess I expected a little more.

I don't hate DVC and will try it again.I had a not so great stay at one resort ,there are more to chose from. I actually have a post up in the rent/ trade forum for next year at BCV to give it another shot.

This trip I just felt like the magic that is Disney just wasn't there for us this time,it wasnt just BCV, it seemed to be everywhere we went something went wrong.

Did they explain why the time for the fireworks was changed? Was it not listed correctly on the schedule?

Nobody really had an answer, just that the day before Disney sent out a revised event schedule and the fireworks were changed to 8:00pm instead of 9:00pm and nothing was changed in the computer so even CM's that did not see the "memo" didnt know.That night was the pirates and princesses party so that might of had something to do with it.

 

[Jeremy&Susan]

Icale - I am so sorry to hear that you had the vacation from $#&* I would write a very long letter and send it to almost anybody and everybody and let them know that this kind of experience is NOT ACCEPTABLE!!!!!!

Again, make a stink and tell WDW what you want for your bad experience. Good luck and keep us updated.

I have seen many many posts, including my own, about POOR service at Disney and DVC.
Everyone says, "Send a letter, talk to the new Prez, keep complaining...."

The question I would ask is, what has been done?
Disney obviously doesn't care about it's reputation anymore. Sad to say but it's becoming more obvious every day on boards like this.
People reply back to the management and they either dont respond at all or they give you the old, "We'll look into it" and NOTHING happens. Nothing seems to improve, no corrective actions are EVER shared with those who had the bad experience and it jsut makes me sad.

If Disney keeps up with this poor customer service, the magic truely may be going away. I and my family love Disney but not like what we used to. Service and Pride were always in evidence at Disney in the past, now it's just full of too many who really don't care about their job and managers who could care less about their staff or the people who they are supposed to be taking care of.


I wish somebody would listen to us, people aren't complaining because they have nothing better to do Disney. Compaints are a vital source of information you should use to make improvements and become a better company or at least get back to the company you once were.

Why not break the mold and start up a Disney feedback site where issues can be discussed and real corrective actions can be published to show your true fans that you do care about your customers as much as Walt did. Make us feel like family and friends again, we are open and willing to forget these issues if you would just openly show us that you are going to improve. Show stats and what people are complaining about the most along with what people are praising the most and what the Disney Company is doing to address both.